Such bad food...inedible

Maybe we went on a bad night, maybe the food wasnt fresh, maybe the lobster in the ravioli didnt actually come from a vat of leftover chum from the weekend fishing trip...but it sure tasted like it. Have you ever swallowed a slimy rubber band while swimming in the ocean down the shore? If not, try the lobster ravioli. The sliced beef was something from a really bad chinese restaurant. Ambiance was great, service was good, food was just the worst i have had in the area in a long time.

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270 out of 567 people found this review helpful.

Delightful garden restaurant

We are longtime downtowner foodie-types, and this is one of our favorite neighborhood restaurants! We love the garden, the warm service, and the fresh and interesting food. We had a wonderful major birthday party with friends and family in the garden recently--we all felt we were in Europe, and the service couldn't have been more solicitous. We also spent a great evening with staff and neighborhood Italians the night Italy won the World Cup!

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272 out of 517 people found this review helpful.

good value in a relaxing space

I'm glad a friend recommended the signature dish, Tonnarelli Cacio E Pepe. On top on freshly made spagetti, a creamy pepper sauce mixed right in front of you in a large (15" diameter or so) grated cheese wheel - with a generous amount of grated cheese being skraped into the mix - get's spooned onto the waiting pasta. Excellent! For desert I had the wine soaked black cherries with cinnamon ice cream. Me Like! Good food, good service and, even if the decor was not so good, it had clean rest rooms, and that's critical to me whenh considering a return trip which may happen sooner than later.

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228 out of 464 people found this review helpful.

cozy and delicious

it was pretty busy on a wednesday night but my friend and i got a table right away. the service was charming and the prices were reasonable. we started with a refreshing fennel and button mushroom salad and then had some great pasta. my friend had the seafood parpadelle that absorbed the flavorful broth. i had soft pillows of gnocchi in a wild boar ragu that just need a bit more salt to bring out the piggy flavor. i will be back to try the house cacio e pepe pasta.

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302 out of 644 people found this review helpful.

Perfect

The food here is amazing! While the service was a little slow, the atmosphere was very cozy and friendly. And the prices were very reasonable, especially considering the quality of ingredients and food!

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258 out of 598 people found this review helpful.

A great experience

This restaurant is a delight. The food is amazing. I can't remember the last time I had something with so much flavor. The service is also very good. Even though we went there on a busy Friday night they made a great effort to get us seated as quickly as possible. Everyone who works there is Italian and the atmosphere is completely authentic.

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345 out of 696 people found this review helpful.

very good pasta dishes

definitely go; a great neighborhood feel and the staff were friendly and helpful. we had wonderful, inventive pasta dishes that were made so well. the salad was very nicely dressed and flavorful. we were very impressed.

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332 out of 705 people found this review helpful.

The best meal we've had in ages!

Finally! A great Italian place in the neighborhood. They also do a brunch that isn't just fried eggs. This place has the right mix of trendy and traditional. The people are friendly and knowlegeable about food and wine without being stuffy. The food is great and the prices even better. Great value! I would recommend eating like an Italian - an appetizer, pasta, entree,and dessert. It is worth it to make room for tasting as much as possible. The chef knows how to be creative without compromising flavors. This is our new regular dining spot.

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381 out of 729 people found this review helpful.

Rude "service"

I came with my companion and the Italian waiter was very hurried and inattentive from the start. When we inquired about the menu, he was dismissive and made a lot of inappropriate unsolicited commentaries. When his rudeness did not stop, we decided to leave. The owner should be aware of this. I am from the neighborhood and will not come back nor recommend this aggravating place to anyone. No wonder the place was almost empty.

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405 out of 819 people found this review helpful.

Great Authentic Italian Food and Service

This place is fantastic. I lived in Italy for many years, Rome in fact and am always searching for authentic Roman/Italian food. What this chef does with Roman dishes is incredible and he changes the menu seasonally - I have never seen that before! We have gone several times and plan to make it our new regular dining spot. The service is friendly and informed and it is nice to eat in the East Village and not be cramed into a restaurant. This place is spacious and comfortable and the garden in beautiful!

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338 out of 647 people found this review helpful.